Safety switch-panel.



A. E. GRISWOLD.

SAFETY SWITCH PANEL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-21,1915.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

ANDREW E. GRISWOLD, or SEATTLE, wasnmerou.

SAFETY SWIT CIT-PANEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Application filed. January 21, 1915. Serial No. 3,462.

T 0 all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW E. GRIswoLD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Seattle, in the county of King and State ofWashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SafetySwitch-Panels, of which the following is a full, true, and exactspecification.

My invention relates to safety switch panels and has for its principalobjects; to generallyimprove a multiple switch panel in such a way as toallow the safety cover to be removed, without in any way affecting theoperation or utility of the switches, as is'desirable in the removal ofany particular switch for repairs or otherwise; to improve safety panelconstruction in such a way as to render it safer of operation when thesafety cover is removed.

Other objects will appear as my invention is more fully explained in thefollowing specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings andpointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my device with certain partsbroken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross section through Fig. 1 withcertain parts removed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, numeral 1 designates anouter casing having an outer hinged door 2 and an inner door 3 which isset into and hinged to door 2. An insulation base 4 and sides 5 inclosethe usual bus bars 6, 7 and 8, having connections 6, 7 and 8respectively, branch bars 9, 10 and 11, clips 12, 13, 14, 12, 13 and 14which convey the current to vertical spring contact angles 15. Thecontact angles are arranged in groups of four and are adapted to receiveand frictionallyhold inserted between them, a standard push button snapswitch 16 having the usual push buttons 17 and 17 for operatingsaidswitch.

'The clips 12?, 13 and 145" connectto one member 18 of fusecartridge-holders. Similar cartridge holders 19 are screwed to the base4 and form terminals for the connections of theusual circuit wires. Afusible cartridge 20 completes the circuit. Four screwed posts 21 aresecured'to base 4: and support a safetycover 22 which is provided withholes which closely fit about push buttons 17 and 17. Safety plate 22 isheld in place by cap units 23 on bolts 21. Guard angles 2% securedto-the inner side of door 2, fit down close to safety cover 22 in such away as to prevent a flash from passing around the edge of safety cover22. Handles 25 facilitate the removal of safety cover 22. The object ofthe safety cover is to protect' the operator of the switches from comingin contact with any live connections, and, as the push buttons projectthrough the safety cover, it does not interfere with the operation ofthe switches. In operating the switches, door 3 only is opened.

When-it is desired to remove one of the switches 16 from the panel, asis necessary to make repairs, the cap units 23 are removed, door 2opened and safety cover .22 lifted out by handles 25 without in any wayinterfering with the operation or utility of the switches. The defectiveswitch is now pulled from between contact angles 15 and repaired andreplaced or another one inserted in its place. During this operation,any of the other switches may be operated at any time as usual, withoutreplacing any parts. It will be apparentthat this is a marked advantageover the usual practice of removing the handles of snap switches,

which are in general use for panels, before being, able to remove thesafety cover and having to either replace them immediately, at somedanger to the operator or leave them off until the safety cover isreplaced again.

During the time the cover is off, the switches would be inoperative inthat the handles would be removed from them.

As it is frequently necessary to operate the switches instantly andwithout delay,

the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,and I therefore desire to avoid being limited to the exact form shownand described, except as defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent, is

1. In an article of the class described, the

combination of an outer casing", a system of switches. within thecasing. the switch operating means being of the push button 1 the saidswitches and supported from the said casing and the said plate beingprovided with a plurality of openings through which the said pushbuttons snugly but slidably project, whereby the safety plate may beremoved without removing any of the push buttons. l

2. In an article of the class described, the combination of an outercasing, an outer door for the casing, a system of switches within thecasing, a safety plate for covermama ing the live electrical connectionwithin the casing, the said plate beingprovided with a plurality ofopenings, screw posts which project from the bottom of the outer casing,and holding nuts by me ans of which the said covering is removablysupported, a push button for every switch, the said push buttonsprojecting above the said safety plate and slidably though snuglyfitting the said openings, whereby the safety plate may be removedwithout removing any of the push buttons.

I ANDREW E. GRISWQLD. Witnesses: I

R. D. SMALLEY, l/VINIFRED Knnrr.

